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Switch recently added man-db to keg only; not GNU, muscle-memory #36981

@RalphCorderoy

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@RalphCorderoy

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A formula for man-db was recently added by @maxim-belkin. It configures a prefix g so the resulting gman, etc., don't clash with the system's. I think it would be better for the formula to drop the prefix and to be keg only so the user then has a choice how to access the command. man-db is not a GNU project, the normal meaning of the g prefix, and man(1) is such a common command that muscle-memory types man ls and doesn't want re-training when non-Homebrew systems are still being used. Because man groff' will use the old, crufty, system man the user might take a while to notice issues, realise the problem, and have to re-start with gman groff'. I think most would prefer to make the explicit choice after brewing man-db to make its man their default.

AIUI, once keg only, after brew install man-db the user is prompted with the edits to make to their profile to add the new executables' directory to their PATH. They could also choose another avenue, like symlinking into ~/bin, or a bash alias, etc.

I'm not a Mac/Homebrew user so sorry if I have some of the terminology wrong. I've an interest in man-db, and the underlying man-page formatter. This issue resulted from a private email discussion involving Maxim, among others.

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